Greece: national committees linking the education system and the labour market

The education ministry has set up three committees to support policymaking, monitor current reforms and improve links between education and the labour market.

The National Education and Human Resource Development Council (ESEKAAD) was founded in February 2017 to replace the National Education Council (ESYP). Compared to its predecessor, ESEKAAD has a more executive role, is much smaller in size, and less heterogeneous in composition. Also, in addition to its advisory role in designing education policy, its mandate includes employment promotion and the link between education and the labour market. Within this framework, ESEKAAD has a major say in policies addressing the mismatch between labour-market-relevant knowledge, skills and competences, and those offered by the education system.

A new law approved by the Greek Parliament, in August 2017, introduces the National VET Committee, as well as the accompanying Technical Committee and specifies their composition, purpose and mandate. The aim is to ensure the implementation of the National strategic framework for upgrading VET and apprenticeship (introduced in April 2016), to address challenges posed by the complexity of the Greek VET system, and to achieve unimpeded cooperation among the many actors involved in VET.

More specifically, the National VET Committee will have responsibility for overall coordination and governance of VET. It will coordinate and monitor the implementation of actions foreseen by the national strategic framework, and will also propose new actions to the ministers of education and labour.

The VET Technical Committee will support the National VET Committee in implementing and monitoring the national strategic framework. This function includes monitoring all VET stakeholders and coordinating their actions. It will also suggest new qualifications and corresponding professional profiles and will coordinate all policy actions concerning apprenticeship development and continuing VET. As part of its mission the VET Technical Committee should also consider Greek development priorities at national, regional and local levels, suggestions by regional VET committees, social partners and other stakeholders, and outcomes of the skills diagnosis mechanism (set up by the labour ministry). It can set up ad-hoc advisory committees to assist its work, while its composition may be broadened, as representatives of shared competence bodies and other ministries can take part when necessary.